Sussex partners join forces to improve young people's mental health
Around 90 people from in and around Sussex came together at an event held on 16 June to pledge their support and help develop ambitions around community-based emotional wellbeing and mental health youth interventions for 16-25year olds.
Representatives for the education, voluntary, community sector, children's social care, local authorities, Integrated Care System, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, as well as young people themselves, attended at the Sussex Youth Mental Health 'call to action' Summit, in Brighton, to find ways to change and help reform mental health and wellbeing services for young people.
The event, co-ordinated by Kent, Surrey and Sussex Academic Health Science Network (KSS AHSN), NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS) in partnership with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) and was co-facilitated by young people from Varndean School in Brighton.
In support of the event, Member of Parliament for Chichester and Minister of State for Care and Mental Health, Gillian Keegan MP, gave the opening address by video message to all attendees thanking them for dedication to improving mental health and wellbeing services for children and young people across Sussex.
She said: "We know that currently too many young people, particularly children and young people, do not have the tools they need to support looking after their wellbeing or prevent mental health problems from escalating. I know there is more to do, one of the key priorities that I have as minister with responsibility for mental health is ensuring that anyone needing mental health services is able to access them and access them quickly. No matter where you grow up, your background, our children and young people deserve the opportunity to grow up in and stay in good mental health.
"The last two years have been particularly difficult for our children and young people with their lives and education disrupted but, as we learn to rebuild and learn to live with Covid-19, it is vital that we support our children and young people with their mental health and wellbeing.
"We all have a role to play in resetting the way we approach mental health and we need to continue that conversation about mental health, particularly for children and young people and those parts of the community that are more difficult to reach."
This was followed by a range of different speakers, including:
Dr Rick Fraser, Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Lead Youth Pathway, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, who said: "At no point in recent history has it been more important that we work to support the mental wellbeing of young people as we emerge from a pandemic, and into a period of economic hardship.
"We need to invest in our young people who will be the leaders and workforce of the future. Coming together to review our system offer in Sussex, for young people's mental health and wellbeing, is crucial in order to make sure we have services that are easy to access, joined up, coproduced and fit for purpose.
"Keeping young people at the centre of this work will ensure we are building services that will be user-friendly and effective. It is also essential that we research and evaluate as we progress. I am grateful to everyone who has supported this work, the AHSN and ARC who have helped to make this summit a reality and I look forward to developing our shared vision together."
International and National Exemplar, Professor Pat McGorry AO, Professor of Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, who shared learning from Australia as to how local regions can overcome barriers to collaborative working.
Alistair McGrory and team from Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust explained the work currently taking place across the region.
Professor David Fowler, ARC KSS Starting Well: Children and Young People's Mental Health Lead, talked about how research conducted to help develop better outcomes for 16-25year olds in Sussex. He said: "I am delighted to have been involved in this summit with so many key partners from across Sussex involved in the delivery of mental health services for children and young people aged 16-25.
"It has also been a privilege to meet so many young people themselves and a great opportunity to discuss the research we are currently undertaking to develop community-based youth mental health interventions in collaboration with key stakeholders from across the region."
In the afternoon, members of the audience were asked to agree their collective ambitions and pledge their commitment to improving outcomes for 16-25year olds.
- For further information on ARC KSS Starting Well Children's Mental Health Projects visit our website.
Latest research initiatives at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) to support and involve young people include:
- Mental Health Support Research Clinic - delivering and evaluating support for young people in schools.
- PPI Youth Café - for those young people looking to get involved in research. SPFT are looking for young people to help shape research. Click on link for further information: the 16-24 age group and the 11-15 age group.
- The TOGETHER study is seeking views of supporting social connectedness for young people with mental health problems. The study is looking for practitioners (from any service) who support young people aged 16-25 years to take part in a short online survey.
For more information and to take part, click here. If you have any questions about the study, please contact Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
You might also be interested in...
-
SlowMo trial results help people with paranoia
-
Testing new cognitive assessment tool
-
Art delivers powerful youth suicide message
-
Looking at technology and the way we live
-
Learning disability dementia service launches
-
Personalised sculpture unveiled at local mental health centre in memory of art psychotherapist
-
New resources available to support young people
-
NHS heroes from Sussex join The Duke of Cambridge for a ‘Big Tea’ at Buckingham Palace as thousands hold their own events to say thank you to the NHS
-
Study explores benefits of sharing mental health recovery stories
-
Hampshire CAMHS launch new book sharing young people’s experiences of lockdown and the pandemic
-
New role for Acosia Nyanin, Chief Nursing Officer
-
New mental health service launched to support Sussex health and care staff
-
NHS mental health charity calls on local community to get involved in Hearts of Gold project
-
National ‘CAMHS in the Time of Covid’ online event shares learning to improve mental health support for young people
-
Expanding specialist mental health and learning disability support across Sussex
-
Old Skool Bus launches fundraising campaign for NHS mental health charity
-
Sussex residents raise mental health awareness and spread joy with NHS charity Hearts of Gold Campaign
-
Heene Primary school raise mental health awareness and spread joy with NHS charity Hearts of Gold Campaign
-
Rainbow badges bring joy to children of NHS staff
-
Health chiefs unveil final mental healthcare plans for West Sussex
-
New High Intensity Service launched for military veterans facing mental health crisis
-
Local business teams up with Heads On to provide care packs for carers
-
Staff survey results
-
New dementia unit welcomes first patients
-
New Chief Nurse appointed
-
Sussex mental health staff celebrated at virtual awards ceremony
-
‘Autism Passport’ rolls out across Sussex
-
Young people co-design website around mental health
-
Paranoia therapy app SlowMo helps people “slow down” and manage their fears
-
GB MET and Sussex Partnership launch a Health and Care Academy
-
Still time to have a say on proposals for mental health inpatient services in East Sussex
-
Heads On launches primary school mental health project
-
Extra public meeting for mental health services consultation in East Sussex
-
Less than two weeks left to have a say on proposals to improve mental health inpatient services in East Sussex
-
Going green at Swandean
-
Public consultation on improving mental health inpatient services in East Sussex ends
-
Hampshire CAMHS send support guide to year 7 pupils across Hampshire
-
Local NHS Charity leads World Mental Health Day Schools Project in Sussex and Hampshire
-
Army veteran praises Sussex perinatal support services and urges others to ‘have that first conversation’
-
Patients and staff from local psychosis service to set sail on a ‘Voyage of Recovery’ this month
-
New research clinics commissioned to support mental health
-
Thousands more children to benefit from mental health support in schools
-
Celebrating Black History Month 2021
-
Blog by our Chair, Peter Molyneux
-
New role for Sam Allen, Chief Executive
-
Celebrating Nursing Support Workers Day 2021
-
Health chiefs confirm plans for new mental health hospital in East Sussex
-
Local charity receives £830,000 to enhance health care in Sussex
-
Sussex mental health trust awarded next level of accreditation for their work with family and friend carers
-
Experts and patients from Sussex share experiences of hearing voices
-
Working at Sussex Partnership is #notjustajob
-
Covid-19 vaccination centres in Worthing and Hove open to the public
-
Celebration event brings together patients, carers and staff
-
People invited to have say on plans to improve mental health services in East Sussex
-
One million people in Sussex receive Covid-19 vaccination
-
Art and creativity help inspire Learning Disability Week in Sussex
-
Sussex NHS Charities unite for Walk for Wards Event this September
-
Public consultation on mental health hospital plans launched
-
Opportunities to work in a new intensive home treatment service
-
Celebrating training success - Eastbourne mental health worker receives award
-
Bexhill residents to have their say on hospital plans
-
Invitation to join a virtual website development workshop
-
Children's Mental Health Week, 7-13 February 2022
-
Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week, 7-13 February 2022
-
Postponed - Drop in events this weekend about new mental health hospital in Bexhill
-
Sussex mental health staff celebrated at virtual awards ceremony
-
Mental health charity sea dip for International Women's Day
-
Study trials sleep strategies to help carers and people with dementia
-
Celebrating difference - local mental health Trust creates film to raise awareness of neurodivergence
-
Mental health service recognised for research support
-
Sussex NHS Charities unite for Walk for Wards fundraising event
-
Mental health service recognised for research support
-
Sussex NHS Charities unite for Walk for Wards fundraising event
-
New CEO announced
-
Sussex Recovery College summer term
-
Pioneering self-compassion teachers set for their only UK event in Sussex
-
Local NHS seeks planning permission for new hospital In Bexhill
-
New West Sussex Single Point of Access for children and young people launches today
-
Successful Walk for Wards event celebrates NHS in Sussex
-
Sussex Partnership has been reaccredited ‘Veterans Aware’ status
-
Fatboy Slim launches music workshops for people with mental health problems in Sussex
-
It's good to talk - East Sussex locals encouraged to seek support for their wellbeing
-
Sussex Partnership supports Trans Pride Brighton
-
Sussex Mental Healthline expands support offer for children and young people
-
Improving access to housing for people with mental health needs
-
Marathon Man runs 100 miles to support local NHS mental health services
-
Personalised sculpture unveiled at local mental health centre in memory of art psychotherapist
-
Planning permission granted for new mental health hospital in Bexhill
-
"Cold Water" Researcher Joins Professor Ranks in Sussex
-
Sussex Partnership receives Gold Award
-
Local NHS Mental Health Charity one of Brighton Marathon's Charity Partners 2023
-
NHS systems cyber-attack - how Sussex Partnership has been affected
-
Welcome to our new Governors
-
40 seconds: Suicide awareness sand timer being launched in Hampshire
-
Local NHS charity leads World Mental Health Day Schools Project in Sussex and Hampshire
-
Cricket fun day raises thousands to support NHS mental health services
-
Text messaging service offers students 24/7 mental health support
-
Recovery College courses starting soon
-
Programme to improve West Sussex mental health inpatient services complete
-
Local Age UK urges older people to seek mental health support if they are suffering in silence
-
Public art installation delivers powerful suicide message in Hampshire
-
Learning disability dementia service launches in West Sussex
-
New Chief Nursing Officer
-
Our new website
-
Mental health exhibition urges young people to say 'This is Me'
-
Royal College of Nursing strike action update
-
Sussex Partnership appoints new Chief People Officer
-
Text messaging service offers mental health support over festive period
-
Critical Incident declared across health services in Sussex
-
Update on planned industrial action
-
Stay at home and rest if affected by winter viruses
-
Join our Research Network
-
Update on industrial action
-
'First of its kind' eating disorder support for young people in Sussex
-
COBALT - new dementia study opens in Sussex
-
NHS Mental Health Charity invests £220,000 into voluntary sector to fund community mental health support
-
Making talking therapy more accessible to patients with psychosis who experience learning challenges
-
Update on industrial action
-
New study shows the benefits of mindfulness self-help in treating depression in adults
-
Improving access to NHS veterans’ mental health services from 1 April 2023
-
Sussex Partnership colleagues thanked for supporting research
-
British Medical Association industrial action
-
Minds Matter event raises more than £1,000 for local mental health charity
-
Sussex charity walk will mark the NHS 75th Birthday
-
Sussex Recovery College virtual open day
-
Advice about services during the bank holiday weekend
-
Free children's mental health learning workshops for parents and carers
-
Dr Jessica Eccles features in new documentary on ADHD
-
Mental Health Awareness Week 2023: Spotlight on anxiety
-
Governor elections now open
-
Worthing warehouse worker stars alongside England and Liverpool footballer Jordan Henderson in new Rankin exhibition celebrating 75 years of NHS charities